Ohio State Spring practice is here. For the first time in 10 years, the Buckeyes get to kick off a season as defending champions. Ryan Day decided to shorten Spring practice due to the length of the 2024 season. Finally, the Buckeyes are back in action. With a fresh “National Champions 2024” banner up in the WHAC, the Buckeyes get their 2025 started.
Ohio State Spring Practice Kicks Off Title Defense
A Real Quarterback Battle
There are plenty of questions surrounding the Buckeyes. All eyes will be on the quarterback battle. Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair are fighting to succeed Will Howard. Day said that all three quarterbacks will have an equal opportunity to win the job. Day said in his presser earlier this week that there was no official pecking order among the trio.
Through two practices, it seems he was being truthful. Kienholz has been the number-one quarterback through the rotations though Sayin has had plenty of reps with the first-team receivers. As the Buckeyes have been working with the new offensive coordinator (for real this time), all three quarterbacks have been working out with receivers running routes on air.
All three have had misses and successes, as to be expected in the first week of Spring. However, when the the Buckeyes have three receivers run the route concept on air and the three quarterbacks throw to the different players, Sayin has begun to stand out. His release is quicker and more decisive than Kienholz and St. Clair.
A slight concern from last year regarding Sayin was his arm strength after skipping a few passes in the Spring Game and in early-season relief. It seems those concerns can be put to bed. Already, the sophomore has a zip to his passes that takes the eyes off the other two quarterbacks. Time will tell, but it appears that it’s Sayin’s battle is to lose. However, knowing Day, he’s not going to name a starter until August.
Offensive Line Shake Up
A weakness that turned into a strength despite adversity, the offensive line is going to look a bit different this year. This Spring, Day and new offensive line coach Tyler Bowen has been making the most of the shortened practice period by making sure all linemen are cross-trained.
Last season, Austin Siereveld came in and played both guard positions due to injuries to Donovan Jackson and Josh Simmons. He played quite admirably and looks to be one of the leaders in the clubhouse this year. However, he’s been getting some work in at left tackle instead of his usual guard position.
Notable absences from the first practice were the two book-end transfers, Ethan Onianwa and Phillip Daniels. The idea is that Onianwa, “Big E” as Day called him, will be the go-to left tackle for the Buckeyes while Phillips is the favorite to anchor the right side. The pair were in town and suited up for practice on Wednesday, but played with the second-team rotation.
There is a logjam. The most likely line from left to right should be Onianwa, Siereveld, Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, and Daniels. Tegra Tshabola got plenty of playing time last year and will likely factor into the discussion as well.
The Buckeyes love to play “the five best” on the offensive line, so there could certainly be a shakeup if Tshabola or someone like Ian Moore steps up.
Leadership Change
How does a team replace well over a dozen starters including the entire captain lineup? Well, Day and staff have identified leaders in each position group and have been working with each on how to move forward.
Perhaps the most striking bit of leadership to this point has been their attitude toward all of the new national championship decor. It’s easy to look up and see the brand-new banners and all of the shiny trophies and feel like the mission was accomplished. Fighting complacency is a new thing for Day and it was something his predecessor preached about following the 2014 title. If we remember, that 2015 team was loaded with top-end NFL talent but never looked like a team that was poised to repeat as champions.
Day remarked that he is focused on reinforcing the Buckeyes’ culture. That culture, he believes, is vindicated due to winning the title a year ago and he’s “never happy” at the end of the first Spring practice. He is “more relaxed” but is hungry for more after getting a taste.
His leaders have the same mentality. The new crop of leaders on the team actually told Day that they wanted to remove some of the national championship stuff around the facility. They believe “this year’s team didn’t win that championship, last year’s team did.” Needless to say, it doesn’t look like the Buckeyes are resting on their laurels. The team is hungry to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. Plus, there isn’t a single member of this team that has beaten Michigan.
The goals remain the same. Ohio State Spring practice is just the first step in the 2025 season.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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